Abstract

Divalent metal ions play an important role in charge neutralization and incorrectly folding RNA into its three‐dimensional
structure. They also play a potentially important role in the catalytic activity of RNA.

The high‐resolution crystal structure of transfer RNA and bound divalent metal ions. The sites that can bind magnesium are
shown in blue, the site that can bind cobalt or magnesium is shown in orange, the site that can bind magnesium, manganese
or cobalt is shown in magenta and the site that binds magnesium, manganese, zinc, cobalt or lead is shown in yellow.

The crystal structure of the P5–P6 domain of the Tetrahymena thermophila group I intron showing the magnesium core. (The magenta sites are cobalt hexamine sites in the crystal structure, which are
analogous to hexahydrated magnesium.)